Series of Books on Historical and Cultural Cities in China—Anyang

Author: Ren Chongyue
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-12-01
Features: This book introduces Anyang. As early as the 14th century BC, or 3,400 years ago, Pan Geng, the ruler of the second dynasty of ancient China—the Shang Dynasty—moved the capital to Anyang, which thus joined the ranks of China's seven ancient capitals. More importantly, from then on, Anyang has eternally worn the heavy and glorious crown of historical and cultural heritage in the vicissitudes of Chinese history—it is the first among the seven ancient capitals to ascend the throne of the capital, making it the earliest ancient capital in Chinese history. Beyond this, what is particularly favored and valued by the descendants of the Chinese nation is that in this ancient capital, within the Yinxu it left behind, a vast number of mysterious oracle bones were unearthed, revealing the oldest ancient Chinese writing symbols—oracle bone script—that we can see today. These provide historical evidence confirming the history of the Xia and Shang dynasties as reliable history and the existence of the Shang Dynasty. They also opened the "dual evidence research method"—the mutual corroboration and supplementation of documents and archaeology—for modern scholars. Anyang, an ancient capital on the Central Plains that forged a glorious chapter of historical and cultural heritage!